Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Mamata Banerjee's Martyr's Day Legacy Fight
Martyr's Day on July 21 is a big political event in West Bengal, India.
It started in 1993 when 13 Youth Congress workers were killed during a protest led by Mamata Banerjee.
She later turned this day into a major event for her party, Trinamool Congress.
However, after Trinamool Congress lost the 2026 elections, the party split into different groups.
Now, four groups, including Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee), Trinamool Congress (Ritabrata Banerjee), Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), and Congress, are all claiming the legacy of Martyr's Day.
This has led to confusion and disputes over who can hold the rally and where.
The families of the martyrs feel ignored this year as the political parties fight over the event.
Martyr's Day on July 21 commemorates the killing of 13 Youth Congress workers in 1993 during a protest led by Mamata Banerjee.
Mamata Banerjee turned the event into a signature show of strength for the Trinamool Congress after forming the party in 1998.
After the Trinamool Congress' electoral defeat in 2026, the party split into multiple factions, each claiming the legacy of Martyr's Day.
Four political groups are now holding separate Martyr's Day functions in different parts of Kolkata.
The families of the martyrs feel ignored this year as the political parties focus on their internal disputes.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress, Congress, Ritabrata Banerjee, Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI)
- What
- A dispute over the ownership and commemoration of Martyr's Day, originally a Youth Congress event, now claimed by multiple political factions.
- When
- July 21, annually, with the 2024 event being the first after the Trinamool Congress' electoral defeat.
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal, India
- Why
- The Trinamool Congress' electoral defeat and subsequent internal divisions have led to a fight over the political legacy of Martyr's Day.
Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee)
Congress
Ownership of Martyr's Day
Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee)
Mamata Banerjee converted the event into Trinamool’s signature show of strength after forming the party in 1998.
Congress
Congress alleges that Mamata Banerjee 'hijacked' the event, which originally belonged to the Youth Congress movement.
- Date of Incident
- July 21, 1993
- Number of Martyrs
- 13
- Original Party
- Youth Congress
- Current Parties Claiming Legacy
- Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee), Trinamool Congress (Ritabrata Banerjee), Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), Congress
- Location of Original Event
- Victoria House at Esplanade, Kolkata
- Current Location of Mamata Banerjee's Rally
- Birla Planetarium, Kolkata
- Year of Trinamool Congress Formation
- 1998
- Year of Trinamool Congress Electoral Defeat
- 2026